Flash floods, landslides kill 15 in Kohistan, Swat, Shangla

At least 15 people, mostly women and children, were killed and over a dozen others injured as heavy rains hit upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing flash floods and landslides, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

Seven these victims were family members after a flash flood in a stream – Laichi Nullah – washed away 19 houses and a mosque in the Sazin area of Kohistan.

Locals and district administration managed to recover the bodies of a woman and her three daughters while efforts were under way to find the remaining three.

Confirming the news about the deaths and structural loss, Kohistan Deputy Commissioner Arif Yousafzai said search and rescue operation was in full swing in the affected village. The administration had also transported relief items for the people, he said.

As the region is prone to landslides, the top district official of Kohistan said the Karakorum Highway had been blocked at three spots after heavy rains triggered land sliding.

On the other hand, flash floods six lives in separate incidents reported from Madyan, Shahgram and Tirat valleys of Swat. More than 12 people were also injured in rain-related incidents.

Flash floods either completely destroyed or damaged many houses and bridges after the streams and smaller rivers burst their banks. 

A woman is among those losing their lives while the body of a child has also been recovered from Swat River which is in high flood now. The body was later shifted to a local hospital in Khwazakhela for identification.

And in Shangla, two people were buried alive as a landslide hit their house in the Kuz Paw Pass area.